Friday, August 22, 2025
Thursday, August 21, 2025
They Ruined My BeBops
They Ruined My BeBops
I have very
fond memories of attending young women’s girls’ camp in my youth. I loved being in the mountains and the fun
activities and mostly sharing the week with the other girls. But my girls’ camp experience got off to a
rocky start. It was a tradition in our
ward that the first year girls were initiated.
I didn’t really know what that meant, but I knew it wasn’t good and I
was scared. The first activity for
initiation was a “snipe hunt.” They
blindfolded us and led us up on the mountain and then took off the blindfolds
and told us to find snipes. It was all a
big joke as there was no such thing as snipes.
I survived that okay. It was even kind of fun. But the second part of my
initiation I did not survive too well.
In fact, I was so upset after this incident, that I did not go to camp
my second year.
One of our
camp leaders was a young mother in our ward.
Her name was Hila Clapier. She
had one daughter and a slew of sons. She
was loud and happy and funny and not real ladylike. She became my not best friend when she
participated in the next part of my initiation.
She surprised me one afternoon by having older girls take my feet, she
took my hands and they carried me down to the river and threw me in. All the way down the mountain, I begged them
to please let me take off my bebops.
At that
time, bebops, as we called them, were the most popular kind of shoes. They were leather lace-ups, with two
colors. Some girls had black and white,
but, as I remember it, the brown and beige ones were the most popular in our
school. Shortly before camp, I finally
got a pair of bebops. I was so thrilled
with my new shoes. I loved them. I was not wise to take them to camp. That was pretty dumb, in fact. But I did.
And I had them on when Hila thought throwing me in the river was a fun
idea.
Hila was
chortling the whole way down the mountain, as were the other girls. They did not listen to my pleas and threw me
right in with my bebops on. I was
completely soaked. And it hurt as I
landed. I tried to be a good sport at
the time and laugh it off. But I was
devastated. I changed my clothes and
tried to dry my beautiful, new shoes.
But they were ruined.
When I went
home, I told my mom the story. She also
was very upset. I can remember her being
angry with Hila. I don’t remember if I
got new bebops or not, but I do remember that my mom supported me in my
decision not to go back to girls camp the next year. The young women leaders encouraged me to give
it another try in my third year, so I reluctantly did. I was so glad I did. I really had a great time. Ever after, I was always a year behind the
girls my age as I progressed through the years.
But that was okay as I made a really good friend my fourth year when we
were stake leaders with a girl who was a year younger than me. Her name was Pam Jensen and we became really
close friends. She lived on a farm in
Middleton, Idaho, but my mom was willing to drive out and pick her up so she
could come over at times. I remember one time in particular that she came over
for a family barbecue. I would probably not have made friends with her if I had
stayed with my age group. It all worked
out fine, and, like I said, I learned to enjoy girls camp in spite of the bebop
incident.
Monday, August 18, 2025
Neighbors and Other Stories

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I’m not a fan of short stories. I am always left wanting more. And I guess that is true of this book, too. But I felt that this author had a gift for character development in a few words. I really enjoyed this book. Characters from some of the stories reappeared in later stories. The best and most memorable of the stories is Neighbors and it’s “sequel” Cherries and Rum. But I enjoyed most of them.
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Thursday, August 14, 2025
A New Driver on the Road
Watch out people! There is a beautiful new driver on the road. Our 16-year-old granddaughter, Gabbi just got her license.
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Things You Save in a Fire

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Modern Fiction Physical Book
I had read that Katherine Center’s romance books are clean (as opposed to Abby Jimeniz and Emily Henry- I haven’t read Emily Henry yet, so I don’t know on her) This book was pretty clean; not pristine, but pretty clean. But it was so much more than a romance. The theme of this book is forgiveness. Forgiving others and one’s self can free someone to trust again. I enjoyed it. It immerses you in the world of firefighters and the firehouse. It was a light and easy read. The cover is beautiful!
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Linda Wright Passes Away
This is a hard one. We have been neighbors for many, many years. Linda and Jonathan and their three cute blonde daughters moved next door about 30 years ago. Jonathan passed away unexpectedly in 2017, just before we got home from our mission. And now Linda. She was seemingly healthy and active. She passed in her sleep. We just lost the best teacher in our ward. She was a phenomenal teacher. She was often asked to teach on fourth Sundays, special meetings of the young men and young women, Relief Society, Primary leadership, etc. Her current callings were teaching Sunday school to the oldest youth class and she taught Relief Society. She served as president of the Primary, Young Women (she was our daughters' young women leader and they loved her), and Relief Society, and served as stake Relief Society president. She was gospel doctrine teacher for years (trading with Ken at that time.) She has served as an ordinance worker in our temple since it opened.
She had a doctorate degree and taught at our local university. She was a well-loved teacher. She changed lives. She made a difference. Shonna took Child Development from her at the college. Shonna expressed that Linda truly influenced her and was instrumental in helping her choose her major: Early Childhood Education. I carefully watched her teach and learned so much from her techniques. She was one of the best teachers I have ever known.
I was asked to play for her funeral. It was an honor, but very scary. Her two little granddaughters sang " I Will Walk with Jesus." We loved Linda and will miss her immensely.
All three daughters and her two sons-in-law gave beautiful talks. |
Linda's Obituary
St. George, Utah - Our beloved Linda Metcalf Wright, 67, passed away on July 24, 2025. She was born June 22, 1958 to Herschel and Tessie Metcalf. She married Jonathan Wright in the Salt Lake City Temple on December 17, 1985.
Linda was born in Salt Lake City and raised in Bountiful, Utah. She graduated from Bountiful High School, Brigham Young University, Utah State University, and Walden University.
Linda taught courses in Nutrition, Human Development, and Early Childhood Education at Utah Tech University for 30 years. Her love of education and passion for teaching was felt by thousands of students. She loved her job and colleagues! She enjoyed cheering on her daughters at their various extra-curricular activities, watching professional tennis, basketball, baseball, and golf, riding her bike, and reading. Her greatest love in life though was her family and her faith. She was a devoted wife, the best mom, and the most fun nana! She loved serving in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and especially loved serving at the Red Cliffs Temple. She was a best friend to each of her daughters and can’t be replaced.
She is survived by her three daughters: Rebecca, Lauren (Todd) Hills, and Hilary (Gavin) Coburn; grandchildren: Lela, Tess, and MacArthur Coburn; brothers: Richard (Holly) Metcalf, Brent (Kristy) Metcalf, and Joel (Laurie) Metcalf. She is preceded in death by her loving husband, Jonathan and her parents.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday July 30, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at the Bloomington Hills LDS 4th Ward Chapel, 750 East Ft. Pierce Drive North, St. George, Utah. Visitations will be held Tuesday evening from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Metcalf Mortuary, 288 West St. George Blvd. and on Wednesday, prior to services, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Church. Interment will be in Tonaquint Cemetery, 1777 South Dixie Drive, St. George, Utah.
Monday, August 11, 2025
Lily Makes the High School Dance Team
Our granddaughter Lily has been taking dance lessons since she was a little girl. She will be a ninth grader next year and will be in the high school. She recently tried out for and made the high school dance team. We are so happy for her.
Friday, August 8, 2025
Lance Funk Passes Away
We didn't even know Lance. We never met him. He was married to Sharley. We did know Sharley. She was a youth in our ward when we lived in Washington many years ago. Her parents were and still are good friends. Though we have both moved away from that ward, we have served in the temple together and so continue to see them often.
We became aware that Lance was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. Sharley is an amazing woman who began sharing their journey on Instagram. I followed her religiously. I was SO touched by her faithful love for him. She is a wonderful writer and I was often in tears as I would read and also watch her video posts.
We were able to attend the viewing and funeral.I have encouraged Sharley to write a book. I know she has 100,000 followers on Instagram. She has touched so many lives and could touch so many more. We continue to pray for her and her family as they adjust to life without Lance.
Thursday, August 7, 2025
Boys Will Be Boys
Kristen's family recently spent a week on the big island of Hawaii. They got to watch the volcano there erupt and take pictures. They hurried up there right after church. They got a nice family picture with the volcano in the background. But they also got . . .well, boys will be boys!
Tuesday, August 5, 2025
Two of the Sweetest Days of our Lives
Last year, Dave and Bonnie attended temple open houses in St. George, Red Cliffs, and Manti, Utah. They both were baptized and attended church as children but had not been to church since becoming adults. They were touched by what they saw and felt. Soon thereafter our elders quorum president was inspired to visit them. They said they wanted to come back to church. We were blessed to be assigned as their ministers. What a joy it has been to be in their home and take this journey with them. On July 16th they went through the temple for the first time. We were blessed to be their escorts. Then the next evening, they were sealed by Ken in our temple. Those truly were two of the sweetest days of our lives. We have come to love this dear couple.
July 16th after the endowment |
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Open the gates |
Even the sunset seemed to be celebrating this glorious day. |
We have an amazing ward. It seemed the whole ward came to both events. Many from Bonnie and Dave's work also came. It was such a glorious, sweet time when they emerged into the celestial room. Ward members and friends gathered around and hugged and congratulated them. We feel sure that is what heaven will be like. We had tears as we watched.
The next night, after the sealing. We all cheered as they emerged from the temple. |
This is Bonnie's oldest brother Dee . It was so sweet to have him there. |
The happy couple |
Afterward, we had a reception for them at the church. |
So many from the ward and from work came to celebrate. |
As we walked out of the reception, I felt that the heavens opened with light. |
Monday, August 4, 2025
September

My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Fiction Physical Book
Elect me president of the Rosamunde Pilcher fan club. I love her books. This was sort of a sequel to The Shell Seekers. But you certainly could read this without reading that. There is just one repeat character and reference to his mother- Penelope, the main character in The Shell Seekers- in this wonderful book.
The characters are so well-developed that I am missing them. There are several interwoven plots, all of which are so enticing they keep you turning pages. Having been to Scotland, I loved the descriptions of the countryside and weather. It was a clean, wholesome read. I really think I will seek and read everything this author wrote. 5 stars.
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Tuesday, July 29, 2025
The Storyteller

My rating: 2 of 5 stars
Historical Fiction Audiobook
Did I finish it? Yes. Do I wish I hadn’t? Yes. I don’t want to read any more books about the Holocaust! I didn’t realize when I chose this one that that is what it is about. Ahh! The story is well-told. I will give it that. Very well told. It sucks you in. I suffered through Auschwitz so that I could find out what happens. And then I hated the ending! Hated it! Because the writing is good, I will give 2 stars instead of the 1 star my heart wants to give it.
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